As soon as I was out of the doors of the palace, I was air born, the images from my vision still playing clearly in my mind. The condensed crystal was actually picking those it wanted to infect and now it had its sights on Tigra. I would never let them anywhere near her.

Rockray was close behind me, determined to keep up. I heard his puffed breath. “You are one fast flyer.”

I didn’t know Anamothra, but I knew exactly where to go from what I saw in seconds, I could sense Link, he might have been wearing that pendent, but he still let of a completely different energy than any other Feles I’d met.

I darted to the market, spotting Tigra rummaging through a stall’s wares. I darted down, landing beside her, letting off a gust of wind that blew wildly. Tigra stumbled in surprise, I gripped hold of her arm before she could fall.

“Fang.” She was shocked by my sudden appearance, gazing at me concern as I scanned her over for the essence of the condensed dark crystal, thankfully she had not come in to contact with it. “Fang.”

I let out a sigh of relief knowing she was safe. My attention quickly turned to my surroundings instantly on guard and darting to where I had seen Tigra from, but when I got there, there was nothing there, but they had been here, I could sense the left-over energy from the condensed crystal.

It had been far stronger than I had felt in the princess’s room, could it be possible that the crystal itself was growing in power with each victim it corrupted and of course Tigra would be the best prize the eternal dragon could get his claws on.

“Alex.” Tigra came from behind, touching my shoulder. “What’s happened?”

“I saw how the princess got the condensed crystal when she was out on a trip outside the city, it was given to her as a gift from someone.” I glanced at Rockray.

“Its customary for our kin to pass on gifts to the royals,” responded Rockray.

“From there it whispers to those it chooses as its next victim, willing them to take hold of it, to carry it with them and slowly without even a fight it consumes them.” I felt slightly angry that they had escaped. “Your highness, I fear it has set eyes upon you, so please allow us to return to our quarters.”

Tigra looked at me displeased. “I have taken on your concerns and advice, but I think I will continued on with my shopping trip.”

“Tigra,” I snapped.

“Excuse me, remember your place, Fang,” snarled Tigra. I was surprised but understood her reaction.

I took a step back. “My apologies, your highness.” I bowed.

“Right then.” Tigra continued on with her day out in the city. I remained silent but on guard, keeping an eye on every single Animalia that came near her.

Tigra picked up a number of different items, having Link carry them, couldn’t see his face it was piled so high, new clothes as the Avis used more silks than we did in Cathopia, beautiful carved figures of the sacred animals, she wanted to share them with others to remind those at home that these creatures once lived and some still did.

I looked up to see Avis flying with the Pegasus, Griffins, and occasional the fairy. I couldn’t help but wonder what other sacred animals called below home.

“Rockray.” Tigra was chatting with him. “Do you think Cathopia could ever have a connection with sacred animals?”

“That I do not know, but perhaps it could, considering it was once known as the city of light, Fang walked beside talismans and sacred animals alike, maybe Cathopia can be like it again when darkness has been chased away,” answered Rockray.

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“Best hurry up then Fang,” she commented. I didn’t respond having a feeling she was annoyed at me. I was annoyed for my chance to find the condensed crystal, but I had yet to see any signs of Vali within the city, was he orchestrating something from outside the city or was he here within.

There was no sign of dark energy and I had completely lost the essence I had before, sure I could return to the princess’s room, but they most probably removed that source by now, knowing I was.

Tigra yawned and turned back towards the palace, she was done for the day. Her attention turned to Rockray. “I would like my dinner served on my returned to the palace, my favourite is fish.”

“Of course, your highness,” he bowed and took flight.

“We’ll be talking later.” She glanced at me. I nodded and we began the walk back.

Tigra was joined by Skyrus. I had to stand there listening to them chat away, waiting until a little later before eating. Skyrus did offer but Tigra’s words from earlier repeated in my head ‘Remember your place, Fang.’ I know she was annoyed but her words were true; I was still her Guardian and in times like this I needed to act as such.

At some point Link switched with Dash who I caught up with what was going on. He seemed unsurprised and I sent him off to scout the entire city before it got dark.

Following silently behind Tigra as I escorted her back to her room, she turned to look at me, then glanced at Rockray who had gone back to following us.

“Excuse us, I need to have a chat with the captain of my Guardians,” she said. Opening her rooms door and expecting me to head inside.

“Of course, your highness. I will see you tomorrow then, for another day of investigation,” said Rockray as he bowed and left.

Tigra followed me in, closing the door on Zack who had remained silent this entire time. Tigra turned to me. “Alex.”

“My apologies, your highness,” I said.

“Don’t give me that,” she snapped. “You’re the one who said keep things professional while we were here, and you do that. I know the darkness is close and you worry about me becoming infected just like dad was, but with the light you say that protects me I will be fine.”

“I am sorry Tigra. The thought of something happening like that to you, hearing the eternal dragon’s voice from so many different animalia is quite unsettling.” I remembered words dad had said to me while I recovered after my long battle against Hashana. That while I was too busy protecting Tigra, I neglected to remember that she was a powerful warrior all by herself.

“You’d save me.” She reached her hand out to touch my cheek.

I touched her hand. “Tigra, will you help me find the darkness that plagues this place?”

“A change in prospective,” she gazed at me.

“Sometimes I forget you are a fierce warrior, who can look after herself even if I was not here,” I said.

“I would love to help tomorrow.” Tigra moved away from me and opened the door. “Best get your rest.” Rockray was still about talking to Zack who had obviously chosen to take the night watch.

“Good night, your highness.” I bowed and left the room. She closed the door behind me.

“Get a telling off,” commented Zack.

“Yep.” I nodded. “Basically, I need to remember to be professional while I am on duty, especially in the presence of those from other territories.” I shrugged my shoulder. “Tomorrow, I search for more dark energy, but first I need to figure out the order in which those infected were.”

“Allow me to take you,” said Rockray.

“No. I don’t want anyone near those corrupted,” I responded, heading off without another word.

I returned to the room with those corrupted, my light crystal was still suspended at the centre of the room, spreading out across the room, shining my light upon those corrupted, each one was unconscious.

I moved around the room, looking at each victim of the darkness, knowing that within their bodies, mind and soul were in conflict between my light and the darkness that had consumed them.

I scanned each individual, roughly guessing the order in which one was inflicted. The essence of darkness on each one was different. The one infected after the princess was her own private maid, after that was a friend of the maid, then one who worked in the kitchen, one of Skyrus’s warriors and the last was a guard who protected the main gates into the palace, which meant the dark crystal could have been anywhere, even outside the palace, somewhere within the city, or even on the floating islands around Anamothra.

I would ask Rockray for any Avis who knew the guard, perhaps someone he knew had the dark crystal and I continued to wonder where was Vali in all this, he had yet to make an appearance, something bigger was going on here.